Mourners filled St Michael & All Angels Church in Kingsnorth and its grounds for the funeral of popular Ashford man Josh Robinson.

Hundreds of friends, family, colleagues and classmates attended the service yesterday, led by Canon Sheila McLachlan.

Josh’s blue coffin, which arrived in a black hearse covered in flowers, arrived at 2pm, and was followed by his family, including parents Marcus and Jenny, brother Dan and girlfriend Ellie.

A car that Josh and two friends spent months upgrading was also in the procession.

Former Homewood School pupil Josh, 22, from Park Farm, died last month in Austria with his close friend Danny Hall, 25, also from Ashford, when the car they were driving in plunged 1,312 feet from a mountain road.

The childhood friends were on day seven of the Great European Rally, an eight-day drive through seven countries, when the tragedy happened.

Due to the high volume of people at the service, many had to stand in the church, with many more waiting outside.

Moving tributes were given by Marcus and Dan Robinson, and a tribute by mum Jenny was read by Canon McLachlan.

Marcus, 46, spoke of how Josh was fascinated by engineering from a young age, and would take apart electronics in the family’s home.

He was also a thrill chaser, and at three years old slid down the family’s stair case in a pillow slip. Years later he broke both arms on a rope swing.

He said Josh had preferred skateboarding and BMXing to football, and was enthusiastic about cars, upgrading several over the years.

His mum Jenny said Josh was interested in people.

Music was played throughout the service, including November Rail by Gun N Roses, Time of your Life by Green Day and Fly by Bluey Robinson.

Hymns The Lord’s My Shepherd and Morning has Broken were sung.

After the service, Josh was laid to rest in the grounds. Family and friend then attended the wake at the Conningbrook Hotel, in Kennington.

Following the deaths of the two men, tribute evenings have taken place across Ashford in their honour.

A trust fund has also been set up in memory of Josh.

Danny’s funeral will take place on Tuesday, at 2pm at the same church.

Anyone is welcome, although the family’s preference is that no one wears black.

Afterwards people are invited to the Kennington Carvery, in Ulley Road, Kennington.